Washing machine



March 10, 1936. o PETEQSON Y 2,033,355

WASHING MACHINE Filed April 26, 1932 ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 10, 1936UNITED STATES" PATENT orrica 2,033,355 WASHING moms Frederick '0.Peterson, Detroit, Mich. Application April 26, 1932, Serial No. 601,569

'1 Claims. '(01. 68-37) This invention relates to clothes washingmachines, and more particularly to a. novel, eflective and greatlysimplified washing machine which needembody no inbuilt motor or otherdriving means, but may be coupled to an ordinary vacuum cleaner in a.manner analogous to that in which accessories are ordinarily 'attachedthereto, and its motive power derived entirely therefrom.

A primary object of the invention is the provision of a washing machinewhich will be both cheaper and more eflicient than those now in commonuse, and the parts of which may be almostentirely stamped of sheetmetal.

Another important object of this invention is the production of aclothes washing machine in which improved means are provided for forcingthe water or suds thru the clothes, and wherein the clothes may bearranged to remain practically stationary, thus rendering it unnecessaryto provide a tub large enough to permit moving the clothes about in it,as is necessitated by most designs, and enabling use of tubs butslightly 5 larger than is necessary to hold the clothes, as well aspermitting packing the tubs tightly with clothes without impairing thewashing efllciency of the machine.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a washing machinein which all mechanical agitating means are eliminated, containing nomoving parts whatever other than the valves, and requiring only to beconnected to a. blower, as of a vacuum cleaner, or to any suitable airpressure and vacuum lines.

provision of a washing machine so constructed and arranged that theoperator can remove clothes from the machine by hand while the 'machinecontains the full washing quantity of water without however having todip the hands in water.

sun further objects will readily, occur iii-those.

skilled in the art upon reference to the following description and theaccompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a partly diagrammaticalvertical sectional .view of a washing machine embodying one form of myinvention and.

Figure 2 is a similarview showing the machine tilted to the oppositedirection.

In both views a vacuum cleaner is fragmen- 5 tarily shown connected tothe machine for actuatingthe same.

Referring now to the drawing, reference characters 3 and 4 designate apair of tubs, mounted on the common base 5, here shown as rigid and 10forming the bottom of both tubs. The tubs may be of any desired size andshape, those here shown being cylindrical, somewhat higher than theirdiameter, and conected near the bottom by a pipe or passage 6. Ratherthan two sepa- 15' rate tubs, a single tub having a dividing partition,apertured near its bottom, might of course be used. For reasons whichwill presently be-- come apparent, however, I preferably utilizeseparate tubs, in order that separately removable 20 lids for eachcompartment may be employed, as shown in the drawing.

The tub assembly is rockably supported upon a rocker or pivot member 1.A rocker having a longer radius and of any desired length might 25 beused it more gentle rocking action shouldbe desired. The more nearly therocker approaches a pivot, which it might in fact be, the more violentwill the tipping action of course be for a given height. Iipreferablyprovide rubber 30 bumpers, as 8, to reduce the shock incident to tippingof the machine. In the construction here shown, each tub is providedwith a sheet metal cover. The cover 9 of tub 3 is hermetically sealableby means of a pneumatic gasket 35 I ll, andcarries valves l2--|3 bymeans of which the intake and exhaust of a vacuum cleaner H arealternately connected to the air space above the water in the tub 3.

valve I! as by the connecting tube I! in such ,manner as totie-constantly inflated by. the air pressure maintained in the valve bythe blower of the. vacuum cleaner as long as the latter is turned on.The cover is thus hermetically sealed upcn the'tub, as long as theblower is rimning, while when the vacuum cleaner is turned off, thegasket is deflated and the cover may easily be removed.

The valve |2 may comprise a cylindrical sheet metal housing, the inletI6 of which is arranged substantially in the middle of its side wall,,while it is provided with a discharge aperture at each end, one ofwhich (20) opens directly into the container thru the cover. The otherdischarge aperture, 2|, may either communicate withthe open air, or beconnected, as here shown, to the other tub. The valve proper comprises asoft rubber ball 22 of somewhat lesser diameter than the cylindricalvalve housing, trapped in the space between the frusto conical valveseat members 2324. The valve ball maybe partly filled with a substanceadapt-,

ed to increase its weight and inertia, as mercury,

water, or water and shot. The operation of this and the vacuum valvewill presently be more fully explained.

The vacuum valve |3 may comprise a similar but somewhat longercylindrical housing in which a pair of such valve balls 22 22 are]arranged in chambers 25-26 at opposite ends cates with the other tub.The tube I5 is connected to the vacuum valve, as at I5 between the valveseats 2! and 28, which are so arranged that the vacuum line tends todraw the balls toward the seats.

The cover ID of tub 4 is apertured as at 33, and to the upstanding neck34 surrounding the aperture the flexible hose 32 may be coupled whichmay connect the same to the pipe 3|. which communicates with valve ports2|-30. The hose 32 may be'detachable and flexible, to enable its easyremoval, so that the covers may be separately removed and applied.

The valve arrangement will seem to be such that when the machine is inthe position in which it is shown in Figure 1, the outlet 2| of theblower valve will be closed by the ball 22, and the outlet of the blowerwill thus be directed to the interior of tub 3 thru passage 20. Theconnection between the vacuum line and the tub 3 will be held closed bythe valve 22 as also shown in that view. The ball 22 will be unseated,and the vacuum line thus connected to the tub 4 through the passage 30and coupling hose 32. The reduced pressure in the vacuum line and in theconnecting pipe 3| will of course also assist in maintaining the valveballs 2222 firmly seated. The air forced into the space above the waterin the tub 3 under pressure while the valves are in this position willforce the water out" of the tub 3 and into the tub 4 thru the connectingpipe 6. This action will of course be assisted by the reduced pressurein tub 4 caused by its connection to the vacuum line.

When enough water has been forced into tub 4 to overbalance theassembly, it tips to the position shown in Figure 2. This movement, andthe incident jar, unseatsthe valve balls 2222 from their seats 2328.Unseating of the valves is assisted not only by the jar, but by theweight and inertia of their fluid contents, cooperating with theirresiliency and by the fact that the valves are of slightly lesserdiameter than the cylindrical valve housing so that the distortion ofthe balls and the assist ng and relatively cool air thereinto.

influence of gravity are unrestricted- The valve ball 22 is thrown tothe opposite end of the pressure valve I2 by tilting of the machine tothis position, and then closes the pressure inlet 20 and the tub 3 byseating against seat member 24- The ball 22 inthe vacuum valve chambersimilarly seats against the seat member 21, sealing oif communicationbetween the vacuum line and the tub 4 and connecting tubes, while theball 22 is unseated and the vacuum line l5 thus connected to the tubthru the passage 29. When the valves are in this position the outlet ofthe blower is directed to the tub 4 thru the hose l6, inlet I6 andthence through the valve orifice and outlet 2| to the connecting pipe 3|and coupling hose 32, which is connected to the cover II] as previouslypointed out. It will be seen that the valves 22--22 are also positivelymaintained seated when in this position by both increased pressure ontheir one side and decreased pressure on the other. When the machine istilted to this position the pressure of the air delivered to the tub 4through the coupling hose 32, aided by the reduction of pressure in tub3, caused by connection of the vacuum line thereto, forces the waterback out of tub 4 and into tub 3 through the connecting pipe 6. When themachine is overbalanced by the greater weight of water in 'tub 3 it willagain tip to the position shown in Figure 1, the valves willbe thrown tothe opposite position in which they are there shown, and the cyclerecommences.

It will be apparent that as long as the vacuum cleaner is connected andrunning the water will alternately be forced from'one tub to the otherwhile the machine rocks first to one position and then the other,throwing the valves to the required positions to reverse theapplications of the intake and outlet sides of the blower. In thisparticular construction the same air is used over and over, preventingundue cooling of the washing water, which many people.

preferably use hot. The valve construction and movement is entirelyoptional. The valves shown in the accompanying drawing will be seen tobe disproportionately enlarged and diagrammatically illustrated in theinterests of clarity. The provision of rockers or a pivot and a tiltingassembly in the manner shown increases the agitation of the contents ofthe tub, and fur-- nishes simple and positive means for actuating valveswhich may be of very simple and inexpensive construction such as thoseshown, which are entirely of sheet metal with the exception of thesimple loaded rubber balls, while the dimensioning and fitting need notbe accurate.

So also the use of the connecting hose 32 is optional. If thisconnection is dispensed with, and the valveports 2|--30 left open to theair, while the aperture 33 thru the cover I0 is also left open, theoperation of the device will be similar, save that the vacuum andpressure lines will alternately be connected one to the tub 3 and theother to the open air, and then the other to the tub and the first tothe open air, while air freely enters and leaves the tub through theopening 33 as the water rises and falls. While this arrangement worksequally satisfactorily, it involves constant changing of the air in bothtubs, and repeated forcing of fresh When the coupling hose is used inthe preferred manner shown and first described, howeve the-,same airwill be seen to be used over and over, thus preventing cooling the waterin the tubs by constantly forcing fresh air thereinto.

If boiling water is used, or a heater adapted to boil the water isinstalled upon the machine,

the pressure of steam so generated might interfere with the operation ofa machine set up and connected in the manner shown. This difliculty mayeasily be obviated, however, by utilizing only the pressure line tooperate the machine,

"applying it alternately to first one tub and then the other, andalternately opening the other tub or otherwise permitting escape ofsteam. All of this may of course be done by means of a similar or anysuitable valve action.

As shown in the drawing, no such pressure sealing means as is utilizedfor sealing the cover 9 need be used to seal the coven l0 upon thestub4, although this is of course optional. The operation of the device willof course be satisfactory in any event, the only essential being thatthe cover I0 be attached securely enough to prevent its being blown offwhen the pressure line is connected to tub 4.

To prevent any possibility of the clothes, which are usually inserted inboth tubs, clogging the If desired the connecting passage may be largeenough to permit the clothes to pass from one tub to the other with thewater when screens f 35 are not in place. If air, together with thewater is forced, with the clothes, back and forth between the tubs, whenthe machine is so oper- Q ated the violence of the action is of courseincreased. This method of operation, which may be arranged to beavailable by merely removing the screens, may be made to function with asmaller amount of water and soap, and so might be preferred by the userwhen doing a small washing. A washer designed primarily to so operatemight of course comprise a simple U-pipe.

To partly 'dry the clothes, the water may first be drained from thetubs, while the clothes are left therein. The hose 32 may then beremoved from the coupling 34, and the hoses l5l6 disconnected from! thevacuum and "pressure valves. The valve-carrying cover is then removedfrcm tub 3, and the vacuum hose l5 connected to the coupling 35, whilethe pressure hose is left free. The tub 3 is left open. Running thevacuum cleaner will then reduce the pressure in the tub 4, and theclothes in tub 3 will be forced downwardly against the rack 35 in thattub under atmospheric pressure. By reason of this squeezing of theclothes against the rack, and the drying efiect of the air which isforced thru them, they will be sufllciently dried in a few minutes toenable their being removed in condition for pressing or hanging upon theline, in the manner usual after wringing. To similarly dry the clothesin tubd, it is merely necessary to remove the cover ID from tu-b 4,while the vacuum line is still connected thereto, and place it upon tub3, after which the drying I operation may be repeated in the oppositedirection, and running the vacuum cleaner will then result in theclothes being pressed against the convenient rinsing of the clothes bymerely:

throwing water over them as they lay in the bottom of the low tub fromwhich the water is being withheld by the vacuum line connection to theother tub, in the manner described. Rinsing water so thrown over theclothes will be drawn into the other tub, and the operator merely liftsout the rinsed and partially dried clothes. The use of very hot water,strong soaps or washing compounds, and such aids to quick and effectivewashing, is not objectionable to a user of my improved washer, for thereis no necessity of placing the hands in thewater;

The efliciency of my washing machine will be seen not to depend upon theprovision. of room for-moving the clothes about in the water, nor isviolent agitation of the water or forcing of air therethru necessary,altho, as stated above,

the same principles of operation may be applied to a similar washer ofthe swishing type in which the clothes are moved by the water and airpassing from one tub to theother. It will be noted also that anactivating blower might be mounted upon the machine itself, in whichevent mechanical valve actuation could be incorporated, but this too isa matter of selection, and I preferably utilize such a systemas thatshown, in which provision is made for coupling the device to a vacuumcleaner, because of the economy which may thus be effected, withoutsacrifice of efiiciency.

If it' is desired to increase the agitation of the water, the valveaction may be so delayed that tripping does not pccur until all thewater has been forced out of the tub under positive pressure, and someair has been forced thru the connecting pipe. This assists somewhatinthe formation of suds, but is not essential for.

efiicient operation of the machine.

By blocking the machine in either position, clothes may be removed fromthe low tub, as soon as the water has all been drawn into the high tub,by merely removing its cover and leaving the hoses connected, the blowerrunning and the other cover in place upon the high tub. Whether or nottilting action is provided, similar operation will be attainable byproviding means for blocking the valves in one position so that theclothes may be removed from the tub having the low water level. Thevacuum line .being then connected to the low tub, the water will be heldtherein and out of the high tub, so that clothes maybe removed from thelatter without dipping the hands in the water.

Such a device as that herein shown will also be seen to be usable as amotor, by means of which power may be derived from a blower forperforming mechanical work of any sort.

Now having described the invention and the preferred embodiment thereof,it is to be understood that the said invention is to be limited, not tothe specific details herein set forth but only by the scope of theclaims which follow.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with means for causing a flow of air under pressure, amotor operable thereby comprising a rockable support, a pair ofreceptacles carried thereby and adapted to receive a quantity of liquid,means connecting the receptacles to enable liquid to pass from one tothe other, and means for directing the air first into one receptacle andthen the other, to force the liquid from one receptacle to another,

and thus cause a rocking movement of the assembly.

2. In combination with means for causing a flow of air under pressure, amotor operable thereby comprising a rockable support, a pair of liquidholding receptacles carried by said support and connected by apassageway, to allow liquid to flow from one to the other, and valvemeans for causing air to flow first into one receptacle and then theother, whereby the liquid is forced from one receptacle to the other anda rocking movement of the assembly induced.

3. In combination with a supply of air under pressure, a motor operablethereby comprising a rockable support, a pair of liquid-holdingreceptacles carried by said support and connected by a passageway toallow liquid to flow from one to the other, conduits connecting the airsupply to one receptacle and means for forcing the water from onereceptacle to the other and thereby inducing a rocking movement of theassembly, including a valve actuatable by the rocking movement of theassembly and adapted to intermittently direct the air into thereceptacle to which it is connected.

4. In combination with a supply of air under pressure, a motor operablethereby comprising a rockable support, a pair of receptacles carriedthereby and adapted to contain a quantity of liquid, means including apassageway connecting the receptacles to provide means whereby liquidmay flow from one to the other, and means for intermittently directingthe air intoone of the receptacles to thereby first force the water outof thatand into the other receptacle and then allow it to flow back, toinduce rocking movement of the assembly, said means includinga valveactuated by such rocking movement.

5. In a washing machine incorporating means operable by air pressure, atub, a lid for the tub, an air supply line for furnishing the motivatingair supply to the machine and connected to the tub, and a pneumaticgasket for sealing the lid upon the tub comprising a hollow resilienttube trapped between the cover and lid and connected to the air supplyline.

6. In combination with means for causing a flow of air under pressure, amotor operable thereby comprising a rockable support, a pair ofreceptacles carried thereby and adapted to receive a quantity of liquid,means connecting the receptacles to enable liquid to pass from one tothe other, and means for intermittently directing and interrupting theair flow to at least one of said receptacles to force liquid from onereceptacle to another and induce rocking movement of the assembly.

7. In a washing machine incorporating means operable by air pressure, aliquid holding tub, a lid for said tub, an air supply conduit leading tothe tub, and a pneumatic gasket sealing the lid upon the tub andconnected to the air supply conduit.

FREDERICK O. PETERSON.

